Students who approach their studies in a systematic and organized manner are more likely to complete the course successfully than are those who do not. Attempt to follow a study schedule. Doing so will help you budget your time and monitor your progress.

Be sure to contact your tutor if you have difficulty with the material or if you are unable to adhere to the work schedule as suggested. If you fall behind in your course work, contact your tutor immediately. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to what options are available. You may, of course, proceed more quickly than is suggested in the study schedule. Note that you will be required to write your final examination within six months of your contracted start date (twelve months for a six-credit course). If you cannot do so, you may apply for a course extension. See the Athabasca University Calendar for details.

Note: Students who are receiving educational funding may be required to complete their studies within a shortened time period. If you are receiving funding from any source, please check the details of your obligations and adjust your personal study schedule accordingly.

Suggested Weekly Study Schedule

Week Unit Title/Learning Activity Reading Assignments
1 Orientation Read the Student Manual and Assignment Manual.
  Part I: The Politics and History of International Law and Global Governance  
2 Unit 1: The Politics of International Law and Global Governance Commentary for Unit 1

From the text, The Politics of International Law:

Christian Reus-Smit, Chapter 1, “Introduction”; and Chapter 2, “The Politics of International Law”

From the Reading File:

Reading 1, Lawrence Finkelstein, “What is Global Governance?”

Reading 2, James Rosenau, “Governance, Order, and Change in World Politics”
3 Unit 2: The History and Evolution of International Law Commentary for Unit 2

From the Reading File:

Reading 3, J. L. Holzgrefe, “The Origins of Modern International Relations Theory”

Reading 4, Kal Holsti, “International Law”

From the text, Lawless World:
Philippe Sands, Chapter 1, “International Law: A Short and Recent History,” and Chapter 2, “Pinochet in London”
4 Unit 3: Power, Ideas, Politics, and Legal Norms Commentary for Unit 3

From the text Contesting Global Governance:

“Preface” and Chapter 1, “Contesting Governance: Multilateralism and Global Social Movements”

From the Reading File:

Reading 5, John H. Jackson, “The Real World Impinges on International Law”

Reading 6, Martha Finnemore, “Fights about Rules: The Role of Efficacy and Power in Changing Multilateralism”
5 Complete the review questions for Part I.  
  Part II: Governing the Use of Force through Law and Governance  
6 Unit 4: Law and Ethics on the Use of Force Commentary for Unit 4

From the text, The Politics of International Law:

Dino Kritsiotis, Chapter 3, “When States Use Armed Force”

From the text, Lawless World:

Philippe Sands, Chapter 8, “Kicking Ass in Iraq”

From the Reading File:

Reading 7, Chris af Jochnick and Roger Normand, “The Legitimation of Violence: A Critical History of the Laws of War”

Reading 8, Eric LeGresley, “The International Law of War Crimes”

Reading 9, Michael Byers, “Not Yet Havoc: Geopolitical Change and the International Rules on the Use of Force”
7 Unit 5: International Institutions and the Use of Force Commentary for Unit 5

From the Reading File:

Reading 10, Roger Normand and Chris af Jochnick. “The Legitimation of Violence: A Critical Analysis of the Gulf War”

Reading 11, John Mueller, “Force, Legitimacy, Success, and Iraq”

From the text, The Politics of International Law:

Richard Price, Chapter 5, “Emerging Customary Norms and Anti-Personnel Landmines”

Nicholas J. Wheeler, Chapter 8, “The Kosovo Bombing Campaign”
8-9 Complete Tutor-Marked Exercise 1: Theory Paper and submit it to your tutor.  
10 Complete the review questions for Part II.  
  Part III: The Expansion of International Law and Global Governance  
11 Unit 6: International Law and Human Rights Commentary for Unit 6

From the text, The Politics of International Law:

Amy Gurowitz, Chapter 6, “International Law, Politics, and Migrant Rights”

David Wippman, Chapter 7, “The International Criminal Court”

From the text, Lawless World:

Philippe Sands, Chapter 3, “A New International Court,” Chapter 7, “Guantánamo: The Legal Black Hole,” and Chapter 9, “Terrorists and Torturers”
12 Unit 7: Global Governance and the Global Commons Commentary for Unit 7

From the text, The Politics of International Law:

Robyn Eckersley, Chapter 4, “Soft Law, Hard Politics, and the Climate Change Treaty”

From the text, Lawless World:

Philippe Sands, Chapter 4, “Global Warming: Throwing Precaution to the Wind”

From the Reading File:

Reading 12, Peter Haas, “UN Conferences and Constructivist Governance of the Environment”

Reading 13, Michael Mason, “Citizenship Entitlements Beyond Borders? Identifying Mechanisms of Access and Redress for Affected Publics in International Environmental Law”
13 Complete the review questions for Part III  
14-16 Complete Tutor-marked Exercise 2: Research Essay and submit it to your tutor  
  Part IV: Law, Governance, and Globalization  
  Unit 8: Governance and Globalization Commentary for Unit 8

From the text, The Politics of International Law:

Antony Anghie, Chapter 9, “International Financial Institutions”

From the text, Lawless World:

Philippe Sands, Chapter 5, “Good Trade, Bad Trade, Cheap Shrimp”; and Chapter 6, “A Safer World, for Investors”
17 Unit 9: Contesting the Governance of Globalization Commentary for Unit 9

From the text, Contesting Global Governance:

Robert O’Brien et al, Chapter 2, “The World Bank and Women’s Movements”; Chapter 3, “The World Trade Organization and Labour”; and Chapter 4, “The World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the Environmental Social Movement”

From the Reading File:

Reading 14, Marianne H. Marchand, “Challenging Globalisation: Toward a Feminist Understanding of Resistance”
18 Unit 10: Making Global Governance Accountable Commentary for Unit 10

From the text, The Politics of International Law:

 Christian Reus-Smit, Chapter 11, “Society, Power, and Ethics”

From the text, Contesting Global Governance:

Robert O’Brien et al, Chapter 5, “The International Monetary Fund and Social Movements”; and Chapter 6, “Complex Multilateralism: MEIs and GSMs”

From the Reading File:

Reading 15, Ngaire Woods, “Making the IMF and the World Bank More Accountable”
  Apply to write the final examination, keeping in mind that requests for examinations from students in North America must be received by the Office of the Registrar a minimum of 15 business days before the intended writing date. See the section of the Student Manual titled “Procedures for Applying for and Writing Examinations.”  
19 Complete the Review of Part IV.  
20-21 Review the entire course.  
22 Write the final examination  
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